Economic Development
Considerations
Santa Rosa City Schools
Robert Eyler, PhD
Sonoma State University
October 2026
Seeing K-12
Education as
“Infrastructure”
Think of site selection for a new or growing
company: what do you need in terms of local
“infrastructure”?
• Water
• Power
• Internet (broadband/gigabit)
• Available/flexible space
• Local government as a partner
• Broad healthcare choices with consistent,
high-quality outcomes
• Strong K-12 education (benefits for
workers versus costs)
As a Jobs Engine
Approximately 9,900 people work for K-12
in Sonoma County as 2025 (+500 from
2019); Santa Rosa about 20% of county
Spending by those workers supports
thousands of other workers at hundreds of
other employers
Grants support workers also, project and
medium-term
Business revenues supported about 1.2
times the payroll
As a Grants,
Philanthropy and
Capital Spending
engine
Annual infusion from State of California,
grants, philanthropy drawn here than
elsewhere: jobs
Construction and renovation more
episodic in terms of large size, but has its
own economic footprint: jobs and
business revenues
$100 million spent on school construction
generates $120 million in local revenues
using Santa Rosa as the area affected
As a Human
Capital Engine
Monroe, Comstock, Piner
Reduction of child care through additional
programs, DSS, tutoring
Building better residents: preparing a local
workforce
Before and after school programs allow
parents more flexibility and time
Demographic change is affecting the
availability of locally-educated high-school
grads
The headwinds
Source:
California DOF
Like bankruptcy: demographic change
happening suddenly and all at once
80 82
84 86
88 90
92 94
96 98
100
102
Index AY 2025-26 = 100
Academic Year
Sonoma Marin Napa Solano California
The Tailwinds
and
Connections
A continuum of partnerships regionally
(in Sonoma County)
Training programs and college prep
Residents and families supported, new
and current
Leaders in the room:
Presidents Garcia and Spagna
8 SRJC SRJC & Santa Rosa City Schools Students
SRJC IN THE SANTA ROSA COMMUNITY
Instruction & Experiential Learning
9 High School-to-College Instructional Partnerships
• Work Experience
• College and Career Access Pathway (CCAP)
instruction
• Associate faculty teaching on site
Strong partnership with Santa Rosa City Schools &
Sonoma County Office of Education
(SR High, Montgomery, Piner, Ridgway, Maria Carillo)
• Application Workshops
• Dual Enrollment, Career Access Pathways (CCAP) and
Credit by Exam (CBE) Orientations
• Cash for College Workshops
• Career Education and College Info Night Presentations • Campus Tours
• Office Hours
• Santa Rosa City School Career Day
Expanded outreach to alternative and community-based sites • Pivot Charter
• Quest Forward Academy
• Jail based IGNITE program
• Conservation Corps of the North Bay
• Big Picture Learning
Piner High School Partnership
• Early College Magnet (ECM) Program
• WEE 95 (CSU-transferable)
10 CCAP IN SANTA ROSA CITY SCHOOLS
2026-2027
11 • Maria Carrillo High School – Sports Medicine Pathway o Fall 26 – KIN 1 – Introduction to Kinesiology
o Spring 27 – KIN 4 – Introduction to Sports Medicine
• Montgomery High School – Business/Entrepreneurship Pathway o Fall 26 – Counseling 53 – College Success
o Spring 27 – ESHP 101 – Innovation
• Elsie Allen High School – Teacher Preparation Pathway o Fall 26 – Counseling 53 – College Success
o Spring 27 – Psych C1000 – Intro to Psychology
• Analy High School – Agriculture Pathway
o Fall 26 – ANSC 2 – Introduction to Farm Animal Health o Spring 27 – AGBU 56 – Agriculture Business and Management Dr. Michael E. Spagna
SSU President
SSU and
Educator
Training to
SRCS and
Beyond
Since 2018: 71 teachers placed in Santa
Rosa City Schools from SSU
More than 1,000 teachers overall
Dual Enrollment at Elsie Allen; direct
admissions across City Schools
STEP Center: Math and Science Teacher
Initiative (MSTI), CSU-wide project
• Funds teachers
• Funds mentors
• Reduces shortage of math and
science teachers
Regional Teacher Residencies…
Thanks!
https://www.sonoma.edu